The Phantom of Faerie Mountain (The Red King Trilogy #1) by E.M. McIntyre

Genre: Teen/Young Adult, FantasyFormat: eBook, PrintPublication Date: April 25, 2015Number of Pages: 191Source: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

A telepathic dog. An ancient prophecy. Two devious faeries.

14 yr old Abby Fletcher must unravel their connection when she is thrown into a world of unknowns after receiving a mysterious message from a frightening beast: The Red King must set me free.

Determined to discover the meaning of this puzzling phrase, Abby sets off to explore a nearby Scottish mountainside in search of clues. What Abby doesn't realize, however, is that it's not a matter of where she will find her answers but when.

Whisked back to the early 14th century, Abby must find the courage to solve the mystery of the Red King and save not only herself but a group of powerless captives wrapped up in a faerie plot.

Review

After receiving a cryptic message from a green, dog-like beast, Abby delves into Scottish folklore to find out more about the beast and The Red King. Abby's investigation leads her to a cave in Faerie Mountain where she encounters the green beast who sends her back in time to find The Red King.

The first two chapters of the book are dedicated to providing readers with some background on Abby and some of the lore associated with Faerie Mountain. I really enjoyed this introduction to our protagonist, and found the bits of lore fascinating.

After this brief introduction, readers follow Abby as she travels back in time to begin her search for The Red King; where she encounters more interesting characters that will help, or hinder her quest. McIntyre does an excellent job of describing the characters, and the addition of Scottish brogue to the dialogue really helps to make the other protagonists more endearing.

In addition to the engrossing lore and endearing protagonists, McIntyre creates a picturesque setting that is wonderfully vibrant and sometimes ominous. The setting is woven in with the story so that readers are not pulled away from Abby's adventures to get a true sense of her surroundings.

However, what really sets The Phantom of Faerie Mountain apart from other YA fantasy novels is the lack of romance. The two protagonists have a platonic relationship, so the book is free of the typical angst-ridden and over-dramatic conflicts that are present in many YA fantasies; making The Phantom of Faerie Mountain appropriate for younger, pre-teen readers.

Whether you are an adult who likes to indulge in a light fantasy read from time-to-time, or a teen/pre-teen that enjoys reading fantasy and adventure novels, The Phantom of Faerie Mountain is an absorbing read that will transport you to another place and time where reality and lore meet.

About the Author

Native to Minnesota, E.M. McIntyre immersed herself in the worlds of Xanth and Narnia as a child and dreamed of one day creating her own magical world for others to enjoy. After receiving a Master’s degree in Biology, E M decided the time was right to pursue her true passion of authorship. Her debut YA fantasy novel, The Phantom of Faerie Mountain, is the first of three in the Red King Trilogy. She is currently working on the second installment, The Secret of Berry Brae Circle. When not daydreaming of magic, mystery, and mischievous characters, E M enjoys gardening and spending time with her crazy pack of five Italian greyhounds.